Dodge Pulls the Plug on Its Newest Muscle Car—After Just One Year

Dodge’s first all-electric muscle car experiment isn’t going as planned. The automaker confirmed it will discontinue the Charger Daytona R/T, its entry-level electric model, after just one model year, citing slow sales, customer apathy, and shifting priorities.

The move comes amid a broader reset for Dodge and parent company Stellantis, which appear to be pivoting back to gas-powered muscle while delaying several high-profile electric launches across brands. The Daytona R/T, a two-door EV starting at $61,590, debuted without the signature Hemi V-8, instead offering 496 horsepower in a sleek package meant to appeal to the next generation of muscle car buyers.

But Dodge loyalists didn’t bite. With more powerful versions like the Daytona Scat Pack offering 670 horsepower for not much more money, and heavily incentivized pricing now bringing both trims into similar territory, the R/T never found its footing. Many buyers, insiders say, are simply holding out for the return of the Hemi or the arrival of Dodge’s new Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six models.

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The EV’s cool reception wasn’t just about performance. According to Dodge, tariffs and pricing confusion also played a role. Despite steep tax credits and advertised prices as low as $47,000 with incentives, enthusiasm remained low.

Going forward, the Charger Daytona Scat Pack will be the sole electric model in the lineup. Gas-powered Chargers—including new four-door versions—are still expected to roll out through 2026. 

If the message wasn’t clear already, Dodge has heard it loud and clear: buyers still want grit, growl, and gasoline—not just silent speed.

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